Electric-circuit controller



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. BOWLEY. ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

.NC 593,510. Patented Nov. 9.1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. BOWLEY. ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

No. 593,510. Patented Nov. 9,1897.

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. UNITED STATES .IOSEPII II. BOW'LEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN IV. STOCKWELL, OF MARENGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,510, dated November 9, 1897.

Application led February Z4, 1897. Serial No. 624,807. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t Wwf/y concern:

Be it known that LJosEPH HENRY BOWLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Circuit Controllers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

As will be hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, my invention appertains to the control of atmospheric conditions in food-storing chambers, and more particularly to means for controlling and operating the valves and other appliances employed to effect such control.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View showing my improved .Switchboard-battery. Fig. 2 is a part of the battery-cabinet removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse central section of Fig. l on a slightlyreduced scale. Fig. 4l is a detail of my improved commutator-cylinder and seat therefor. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the commutator-seat on line a ct of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the commutator-cylinder. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of my improved valve on a line with one of the exitports. Fig. Sis a plan view of the face of the outer member of my valve. Fig. 9 is a plan View of the face of the inner member thereof. Fig. 10 is a central section of Fig. 8. Fig. 1l is a central section of 9. Fig. 12 is a diagrammatical view in illustration of my method adapted for controlling atmospheric conditions of a storage-chamber. Fig. 13 is a vertical section of my automatic circuit opener and closer. Fig. 14 isa top plan view of my heating-coil, showing the upper casing therefor partly broken away.

In carrying out my invention I ind it necessary to arrange in cooperative relation with respect to each other a number of elements, which I will now proceed to individually describe.

It may be stated that my invention comprehends the provision of a valve of special construction, the location thereof in or near v,free rotation thereof.

the storage chamber, an' automatic control for such valve, and means for determining the atmospheric condition of the storage-chamber without the necessity of a personal visit thereto, and also to such other cooperative elements as will be necessary to place those referred to in cooperative combination.

My improved switchboard consists of the switchboard proper, l, which is mounted upon the table 2, preferably constructed as shown and having a cylindrical body, one side thereof having a concave edge 3, contiguous to which the operator is placed. The switchboard proper, 1, consists of athin plate of suitable material having a series of buttons or levers 4, by means of which electrical circuits are closed and opened, thereby operating local magnets located near by or in remote sections of the building or in various parts of the city, each lever or button having control of its re'- spective work, which work may be clearly designated by suitable labels.

Upon one end of the switchboard or other preferred location I mount the commutatorcylinder 5, which is mounted in the concave seat 6, provided in the face of the switchboard at any preferred point and adapted to receive the lower third or half of said cylinder. opposite ends of said seat may be provided with suitable bearings 7, adapted to receive the journals 8 on the cylinder and permit the I The commutator-cylinder consists, essentially, of coils of insulated wire 9 and are practically the well-known resistance-coils used in conserving electricity. Upon the peripheral face of the commutatorcylinder are a series of contact-points l0, which are designed to receive a current of electricity and convey it, through the mediation of the cylinder, to any point desired. Said contact-points are preferably connected to a metal plate 10, having retaining-screws 10b. In forming the cylinder I iill it one-half or two-thirds full, more or less, when I set the plate l0a in position and complete the winding process, after iirst removing a section of the insulation of the wire at a point thereon opposite the retaining-screws'IOb, when said screw is turned home against the bared section, thus providing for the electrilication of said plates and vpoints thereon. Upon the face of the The i IOO concave seat 6 are arranged the series of spring contact-plates 11, so disposed transversely in the bottom of said seat that the iirst will extend entirely across, the second being shorter than the first, the third slightly shorter than the second, and so on. It will be seen that the contact-points 10 upon the cylinder are arranged in a straight line in such a manner that each point will coincide or come in contact with its respective plate only. As many ofthe points and the respective plates as desired may be'brought into registration by simply turning the cylinder. Each of the contact-plates 11 preferably represents but one of the cells of the battery,with which it is suitably connected, and it will be understood that when the force of but one cell is required the commutator-cylinder will be rotated in such a manner that but one of its contact-points will be in contact with its plate. \Vhen it is desired to increase the power, the cylinder is rotated so as to bring the second contactpoint into contact with its individual plate, and so on until all of the pairs of said points and plates may be brought into connection with each other and thereby multiply the force in proportion to the nu 1nber of cells in the battery.

In order to make it fully apparent how I propose to absolutely control and regulate the temperature of different compartments, I will state that where it is desired to establish and maintain, for instance, a certain degree of humidity in the atmosphere I will locate a hygrometer either within the compartment to be controlled or in the air-tight box 12 immediately within the vision of the operator, near the switchboard. Said box shall be connected by suitable pipes with the compartmentI containing the food supplies, and thus contain a sample of the atmosphere therein. If the hygrometer is located directly in the compartment containing' the subject-matter to be treated, the operator will be required to take occasional observations thereof, and if its indices designate that too much moisture is in suspension he will manually or electrically by means of the switchboard actuate one of the valves located in said compartment, and thus introduce a new supply of drier atmosphere, and at the same time permit the exit of part of the moisture-laden air. If, however, the hygrometer is located in the box 12, thc operator can without removing from his place at the switchboard note the condition of the atmosphere in the compartment, which may be far distant, and by setting up an electrical connection with the valve located in the compartment open or closeitthrough the mediation of the proper button before him, accomplishing the same result as though he was personally present. The temperature of the atmosphere may be observed and regulated in the same manner. A thermometer of any approved pat-tern may be located either within the housing 12 or within the compartment containing the goods to be preserved, and the work of raising or lowering the temperature may be done by visiting the compartment or through the automatic control of the switchboard without necessitating such visit.

It will be understood that each ol the segmental sections 13 will contain a cell oi the battery and that the number of sections 'may be multiplied as desired, and also that in operation one of said cells or all of them may be simultaneously applied, as the necessities of the case may demand.

It will be understood that in providing power for the actuation of some simple nicchanical device-such, for instance, as one olf my improved valves or the mechanism lor opening or closing a door or window-the electrical energy comprised in one of the cells will be all that is required, in which case the operator will so manipulate the commutatorcylinder that the desired amount of lorce will be applied. lVhen it is desired to bring to bear all the electrical lorce comprised in all of the cells-when, vfor instance, it is desired to operate with its heavyload one oi' the elevators in the warehouse-the operator will be able bya proper rotation oli' said cylinder te bring the whole force of all the cells into use.

In order to render the segmental sections 13 readily accessible, one or more of said seetions are omitted, which omission provides immediatelyunder the switchliomfd an open ing 15, adapted to accommodate the operator.

It will be seen that a series ol? segmental sections are connected together, forming the disks or compartments 141:. "When it desired to have access to any oi' the cells in any one of the segmental sections, the disk or compartment containing it maybe rotated until such cell comes into view under the switchboard 1, which is attached to the body by hinges l and may be raised and lowered at will.

Suitable handles 16 may be provided lor each of the disks 1l. lilach of the cells lil"L of the battery is complete in itself-that is to say, each one is provided with its complement of zinc and carbon poles and a proper quantity of biting liquid, and each has its individual wire and brush 18. 'Each brush is designed to contact with its inilivilflnal plate 19, located upon the inner face ol the housing or casing 20, attached rigidly to `the top of the table and adapted to protect the series oi' disks 1st. Each ol the contactw plates 1f) is connected with one of the springplates 11, located in the concave seat ti, and by this arrangement it will be seen that the several cells oil' the battery are entirely separated irom each other, enabling the operator, through the medium of the commutator-cylinder, to bring the force of but one cell or the entire battery to bear upon any given work.

The box or receptacleli made airtight and is provided with a glass front, and the box when thus Aformed is connected in any IOO suitable manner with pipes leading to and from the storage-chamber, thus providing that a sample of the atmosphere in said chamber will be forced in said boX. Said receptacle or box12 is provided with a suitable handle 12a, by means of which the door may be opened when it is desired to gain access to the interior. Within said receptacle I locate any preferred style of barometer, hygrometer, thermometer, che., which may at all times be readily seen through the glass front and the condition of the atmosphere thereby ascertained. I thus prefer to locate the box at a convenient point to the operator of the switchboard, enabling him to read.

the condition of the storage-chamber, though it be far removed. It will be understood that by means of the electrical control provided for the valves in said storage-chamber the operator will be enabled to easily regulate the atmospheric condition thereof. When, for instance, the thermometer indicates too high a temperature, one of the buttons having electrical control of the proper valve is pressed, when such valve is opened, admitting cooler air. In like manner if the temperature is indicated as being too low the proper valve is opened, which will admit heated air. It will be understood that the pipes leading from the storage-chamber to the box 12 shall be suitably covered with non-conducting material, as asbestos orthe like.

In order to provide one valve which will perform the office of several individual valves, I have provided what I term my improved polyway valve, as fully illustrated in Figs. 7 to 1l, inclusive'. My valve consists of the members 21 and 22,designed to closely engage each other, the member 22 being secured in position upon the end of the supply-pipe 23. It will be observed that the member 21 is provided with an inwardly-extending hub 24, upon which is seated in screw-threads the annular collar or rim 25. Before said collar is turned home in its operative position I place upon said hub the loosely-fitting sleeve 2G, which has a threaded connection with the retaining-flange 27, having threaded connection with the pipe 23. The member 21 is provided upon its internal face with a series of ports 2S, which may be multiplied in number as preferred, though I have shown but three. Upon the inner face of the member 22 I provide a series of exit-ports 29, having exitpipes 30 seated therein. The location of these ports is such that but one pair thereof will register with each other when the valve is in an opened position. Upon the outer face of the member 21 I form the threaded hub 3l, designed to receive the operating handle or Wheel 32, by means of which the member 21 may be rotated in either direction.

In assembling the several parts of my improved valve I first place upon the hub 24 the loosely-fitting sleeve 2G, when the threaded collar 25 is turned home. I then place upon the threaded end of the pipe 23 the .Signed to engage the sleeve 2G.

member 22, followed by the retaining-flange- 27, the outer threaded ends of which are de- After these parts have been thus placed in position the member 22 is placed in position, the free smooth end of pipe 23 entering thebore of the hub 24, when a proper rotation of the member 21 will cause the sleeve 2G and the flange 27 to firmly engage with each other and thus bind all the parts securely in position. the member 21 upon its axle, formed by the smooth end Aof the pipe 23, any of the ports therein may be brought into registration with a desired port uponthe member 22 and thus convey the iuid supplied by the pipe 23 to any desired point. It will also be apparent that the direction of the liquid may be reversed When it is desired to use the pipe 23 as a common conveyer for several varieties of atmosphere, supplied in this cas'e by the several pipes 30-that is to say, one of the pipes '30 may communicate with the chamber containing very cold air, while the third or fourth, as the case may be, may supply atmosphere especially charged with an antiseptic gas, &c., enabling the pipe 23 to carry all of these varieties to the storage-chamber at the will of the operator. In order to electrically rotate the member 21, the hand-wheel 32 may be replaced by a suitable gear designed to mesh with a gear of proper size upon a motor located contiguous thereto. As any proper variety of motor may be employed, it is not deemed necessary to refer to the details of construction thereof.

In Fig. 12 I have illustrated a preferred form of arrangement for the automatic control of the temperature in a storage room or car wherebya valve is automatically or electrically controlled in such a manner that a valve is opened when the temperature is too high and closed when too low.

Referring in detail to Fig. 12, 33 and' 34 represent local magnets, while 35 represents a battery-receptacle. It will be understood that these parts may be located at any preferred point in the storage room or car, the magnet bein g located near by the valve which itis designed to operate. 3G indicates a valve formed in the ceiling of the room or the roof of the ear, and consists, in addition to the valve proper, 36, of the protecting-fiange 37 and a shield 3S, the latter designed to prevent cinders or the like from entering the compartment when the valve is opened. 39 and 40 represent the ends ofv the wires 41, which form a complete circuit, connecting the magnets 33 and 34 and batteries 35, while 42 represents a circuit opener and closer connected rigidly to a vertically-movable rod 43, properly supported in a vertical position by bracket 44, its lower end being seated in the chamber 45, provided in the receptacle 46. It will also be observed that the rod or plunger 43 has attached to its lower end the head or disk 47, formed of a light porous material,

It will be apparent that by rotating IOO IIO

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as cork or the like. The receptacle 4:0, it will be observed, is of peculiar construction, having the semispherical base forming the cavity a9, designed to contain a sensitively eX- panding and contracting liquid of suitable character, though I preferto employ mercury for this purpose. By the construction just described for the mercury-receptacle substantiallytwo compartments are provided in the neck, the lower being designed to hold the float, While the upper one supports and guides the rod or plunger The chamber l5 communicates by means of la small aperture with the chamber or cavity a9, Which arrangement tends to more reliably secure the [loat against lateral movement than would be the case if it rested on a more expansive surface of mercury or other liquid employed. The chambers Ll5 and 49 communicate with each other bya small aperture 50, which will permit the mercury or other liquid to rise into the chamber 45, and thus raise the head a7 and the plunger attached thereto when such liquid expands by action of heat. 5l represents a suitable receptacle designed to house the heating-coils 52, which are also suitably connected, as by Wires 53, with the batteries 35, and also With the terminals 54 and 55. Said terminals 54C and 55 are also designed to be acted upon by the circuit opener and closer ft2 when, through contraction, the liquid in the receptacle i6 causes the head 47 to become lowered, permitting said opener and closer 42 to engage With the terminals 54: and 55. The receptacle 5l is provided with a series of perforations 5G, Which may also extend to the sides of the receptacles, if deemed necessary, in order to permit the free exit of heated air. The heating-coils 52 are held in a suspended position within the receptacle 5l by the supports 57, formed of glass or other suitable non conducting material, properly secured to the sides of the receptacle.

The operation of my improved controlling device ofthe atm ospheric conditions of a storage-room or other compartment Where its use is deemed advisable may be stated to be as follows: It will be understood that the valve or door 36 is normally closed, and when the temperature becomes colder than is desired the circuit-closer t2 will be lowered by means of the contraction of the liquid in the receptacle 4:6 into engagement With the terminals 54 and 55, thus setting up an electrical connection through the wires 53 with the battery and the heatingcoils, enabling such coils to perform their ofiice in the usual manner. lVlien the temperature of the compartment becomes too high, the liquid in the receptacle at; Will expand sufliciently to elevate the head t7' and incidentally cause the circuit'closer ft2 to contact With the ends of the Wires or terminals 3D and 4-0, which coperation results in causing the contactwblocl; 59 upon the pivoted lever to become lowered by attraction into engagement With the terminal Gl upon the coil or magnet 3l. The lever GO, it will be seen, is pivoted to the terminal 62 upon the coil 33, while one end thereof is pivotally connected to ,the valve or door 30 by means of the arm G3, While the other end thereof is provided with the eounterpoise ttl, suitably mounted thereon by screw-threads or any preferred manner.

ltwill be understood that the arrangement l have provided for the automatic control ci.' the temperature of a compartment is equall y efficient and desirable when used in eonneetion with residences and ottico-rooms, though its principal value lies in providing a means for producing a uniform temperature in storage-rooms and Warehouses where Vit is desired to care for large quantities of stored food, such as eggs, meats, and fruits.

My improved switchboard (illustrated in Fig. l) Willbe found specially desirable in the control of valves When the automatic device above described is not employed, though it might be used in combination therewith if a suitable indicator is placed in the box i12 to designate the atmospheric condition ol the storage-chamber, thus guarding against the failure through any cause ol' the automatic means set forth.

It will be seen that l have produced a labo rsaving device by means of which the control of the atmospheric condition of the rooms nl' a storage-Warehouse is placed under the control of the switchboard and one operator therefor. It is thought that my improverfl commutator-cylinder will be found desirable in any case requiring a perfect control o r regulation of the force of the opening-cells of the motor.

In order to render the receptacle for the mercury readily susceptible to atmospheric changes, I prefer to construct the bottom lb thereof of sheet metal, While the lower edge of the base is cut away to provide the cpcn ings 4.8%

It will of course be understood that the journalS opposite the operating handle orlever S has direct electrical connection with the insulated Wires upon the cylinder and that a suitable wire 8l is so mounted that its end Will be in contact with said journal and thus provide means for conveying the current to any desired point. A ratchet bar S" placed upon the bearing-seat at the end ad jacent to the operatinghandle, in order that the point S on said handle may engage with one of the ratchets and thus hold the cylinder in an adjusted position.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what l claim as new, and desire to sccureby Letters Patent, is*

l. An automatic regulator for electric eircuits, consisting of a receptacle havin a base and neck portion, said neel; having an ripper and lower compartment: a float mounted in the lower compartment of the neck; a standard erected upon said float and in said neck and having fingers designed to engage the ends of the Wires forming the circuit substan- 'tially as speciiied and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein described electric circuit opener and closer, consisting of the mercuryreceptacle having a base and neck portion, said neck portion being divided into two'communieating chambers, the lower one being slightly larger; a iioat mounted in said lower chamber of the neck; a rod erected upon said float and extending upward through the upper neck-chamber, said rod carrying crossbars or fingers designed to connect the adjacent ends of the Wires forming the circuit as said rod is raised or lowered by the action of said float, all operatively combined in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. A switching device for electrical energy consisting of a cylindrical coil of insulated Wire; a series of contact-points in electrical contact with said Wire; a supporting-axle for rotatably mounting said cylindrical'coil and having electrical connection therewith,'and a support or seat designed to receive part of said cylinder, said seat being provided with a series of transversely disposed contactplates for cooperating with the points on said cylinder, each of said plates being connected with the source of electrical energy, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

4. The herein-described switchboard, consisting' of an outer casing; a series of rotatable disk sections mounted therein, each of said disks having a series of segmental compartments; and an open section; electric batteries mounted in said compartments; an individual contact point or brush for each battery, attached to the periphery of said disk; a contact-plate for cooperating with said brush, located upon the inner face of the outer casing; and a series of contact-plates located in a concave seat upon the table, each having Wire connection with the plates on the casing, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. As an improvement in differentiating mechanism for electric energy, the combination with a series of batteries having an individual plate for each cell thereof, each plate being transversely disposed in a concave seat, of a cylinder formed of insulated Wire and provided with a series of spirally-disposed contact-points upon its surfaceV designed to successively engage said plates; a supportingaxle in electrical union with said wire and points, designed to rotatably hold said cylinder in said seat, and means for rotating and locking said cylinder in an adjusted position, as set forth.

6. As an improvement in electric switches, the combination with a series of batteries and graduated plates having electrical union, of a rotatably-mounted cylinder formed of insulated wire having contact-points spirally disposed on the surface thereof; a supportingaxle, having suitable bearings, in electrical union with said contact-points and with the transmitting-wire and a concave seat designed to receive said plates and cylinder and permit the contact-points thereon to successively engage the plates, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

7. The herein-described valve designed to permit liquid to pass through it in either direction, consisting of two contiguous drums, said drums having perfor-ations in their contacting faces, one of said drums being stationary and having a plurality of pipe connections, while the other drum is rotatably mounted and provided with a single pipe connection, all of said parts being arranged in the manner and for the purpose set forth.`

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. BOVLEY.

Witnesses:

WV. T. FITZ GERALD, E. F. CAvEnLY. 

